Mr L.

asked • 08/20/17

Change in length

1 m of bridge heats up and rises by 1 cm. How much has the length changed?

1 Expert Answer

By:

Kenneth S. answered • 08/20/17

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Mr L.

This is a similar question from a math text.
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08/21/17

Kenneth S.

Sorry to haveto criticize it, but it's not well formulated
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08/21/17

Mr L.

Do you have any ideas? I am thinking of using the arc length formula assuming that the curve is a quadratic functio.
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08/21/17

Kenneth S.

I do know that bridges expand due to fluctuations in temperature. I cannot grasp how a part of a bridge 1 m long rises 1 m--i am thinking that the expansion is generally a small fraction, and is in the horizontal direction rather than vertical. In other words, how does a length 1 m rise (by itself?) Since this is a physical problem, the description needs to be improved and it must seem realistic. (This sounds as if the bridge buckles--what is the geometry of this situation?)
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08/21/17

Mr L.

I made a typo: it rises 1 cm. I don't know the geometry. I recall this question from a first year college math text.  I forget what the numbers are but yes you are right: it rises by a fraction.
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08/21/17

Kenneth S.

1 cm increase over a base value of 1 m is one one hundredth increase, or 1%
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08/21/17

Mr L.

If it rises  vertically1 cm from the centre. So the change in length should be 2 cm.
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08/23/17

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